“You used to go farther once, Jonas—six miles, where I have only to go two.”
When supper was over, Philip inquired:
“How early will the dance commence?”
“About eight. We keep early hours in the country, and we like to get our money’s worth.”
“If you have no objection, I will go out to the barn and try my violin a little to see if it is in good tune.”
“Try it in the next room,” said the farmer’s wife.
“Yes, do!” said her husband. “We’d like to hear you.”
He was a little afraid, judging from Philip’s youth, that he could not play very well, and this would give him an opportunity of deciding how competent the boy was to take the place of Paul Beck, of Pomfret, who had quite a reputation in the towns around.
Philip went into the next room and began to prepare himself for his evening’s task. Though his training had by no means been confined to dancing-tunes, he was quite proficient in that department, having more than once been called upon in Norton to officiate in a similar capacity.
When Jonas had listened for five minutes to Philip, he turned to Abner with a satisfied look.